14 replies to this topic

[AntLover101]

Does anyone know how to breed ants in captivity?

[Crystals]

For most species, it isn't easy as they need certain triggers for heat, humidity, and even air pressure in some cases.

 

Some species have been documented breeding in a setup.  I know of one speies of Aphaenogaster that did, I think someone managed to get Pogonomyrex to breed, and I know a few who let alates loose in a sunlit room in their house and managed to get a few fertile queens.

 

Some species are known to breed in the nest, like Tapinoma (who also flies sometimes) and Linepithema humile.

 

Which species were you looking at in particular?

[AntLover101]

I do not have a colony at the moment but I was just wondering how to. Is it possible to breed Camponotus in captivity since that is what I will most likely catch?

[dean_k]

As far as I know, it takes years before the workers & their queen decide to produce reproducible. The colony needs to be big enough at which point the workers will pick some larvae and feed them more than they need which will turn them into males & females. Though for males to be born, the queen must not inject sperm into eggs. How the process exactly works is rather unknown.

 

And then you need specific conditions to trigger males and females to fly to mate.

 

Each species in different regions has different conditions. In other words, you need to study for some years to reach a solid conclusion on how to trigger the mating flight while caring for colonies for years to mature them.

 

Short version : It's easier to be said than done. And it's going to be hard. You will need to stay dedicated for years. Even then your chance is probably half and half. A single mistake will set you back to square one.

Edited by dean_k, April 10 2015 - 8:43 AM.

[AntLover101]

Okay. I guess I will try, it will most likely not work but I will still try. Thanks for the advice

[Crystals]

Best luck is to catch a queen after her flight.  Or to buy one from another local ant keeper if there are any in your area.

[Pulliamj]

Where do you live Antlover?

[AntLover101]

Pennsylvania

[cpman]

Inducing flights seems too hard. Artificial insemination is probably easier if you are trying to breed them in captivity.

Artificial insemination has been successfully preformed on both Atta and Solenopsis invicta.

Theoretically, if you have a sterile hood, micropippetes, tiny forceps, and a microscope you can sterilize, it should not be overly difficult.

It is, presumably, a very similar process to that done on queen bees.

[Myrmicinae]

Only a few species will breed readily in captivity and, unfortunately, North American Camponotus are not among them.  Even if you found a way to trigger a mating flight, there are further difficulties.  For example, most ant species can experience severe inbreeding depression, largely as a result of their single-locus complementary sex determination system, so alates must be introduced from multiple unrelated colonies.

Edited by Myrmicinae, April 10 2015 - 6:49 PM.

[Myrmicinae]

Here is a list of Pennsylvanian ant species that are known to mate intranidally (i.e., within the nest) and thus likely to breed successfully in captivity.

 

(NV) means that it has been suggested but not fully verified.

• Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (NV)
• Myrmica americana (NV)
• Myrmica fracticornis (NV)
• Tapinoma melanocephalum - found only in heated buildings (e.g., greenhouses)
• Tapinoma sessile - at least some variants
• Monomorium pharaonis - found only in heated buildings
• Lasius speculiventris (NV)

I hope that helps.  Good luck!

[AntLover101]

Thank You that does help

[Mikezee]

Inducing flights seems too hard. Artificial insemination is probably easier if you are trying to breed them in captivity.

Artificial insemination has been successfully preformed on both Atta and Solenopsis invicta.

Theoretically, if you have a sterile hood, micropippetes, tiny forceps, and a microscope you can sterilize, it should not be overly difficult.

It is, presumably, a very similar process to that done on queen bees.

So if I have to inject the queens with sperm, how do i get ant sperm and sp specific?

[T.C.]

Inducing flights seems too hard. Artificial insemination is probably easier if you are trying to breed them in captivity.
Artificial insemination has been successfully preformed on both Atta and Solenopsis invicta.
Theoretically, if you have a sterile hood, micropippetes, tiny forceps, and a microscope you can sterilize, it should not be overly difficult.
It is, presumably, a very similar process to that done on queen bees.

So if I have to inject the queens with sperm, how do i get ant sperm and sp specific?

I think you have the wrong idea based off your question.

[MarzieMalfoy]

Okay. I guess I will try, it will most likely not work but I will still try. Thanks for the advice

I know it's been a while but did it work? Because I'm currently trying